Formula 1 confirms Dutch Grand Prix return for 2020 at Zandvoort

The Dutch Grand Prix will return to the F1 calendar in 2020 after 35 years away.

The Dutch Grand Prix will return to the Formula 1 calendar for the 2020 season with a revival of a race at Zandvoort, officials have confirmed.

Following months of speculation and the signing of a provisional agreement a few months ago, F1 has now made its return to the Netherlands official after 35 years away.

As per a release from F1, the race will be on the calendar for "at least three years", and "the track and the infrastucture will be modified in order to meet the standards laid out by the FIA in order to host a Formula 1 World Championship event."

“We are particularly pleased to announce that Formula 1 is returning to race in the Netherlands, at the Zandvoort track," F1 CEO and chairman Chase Carey said.

"From the beginning of our tenure in Formula 1, we said we wanted to race in new venues, while also respecting the sport’s historic roots in Europe. Next season therefore, we will have a brand new street race that will be held in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi, as well the return to Zandvoort, after an absence of 35 years; a track that has contributed to the popularity of the sport all over the world.

"In recent years, we’ve seen a resurgence of interest in Formula 1 in Holland, mainly due to the enthusiastic support for the talented Max Verstappen, as seen from the sea of orange at so many races. No doubt this will be the dominant colour in the Zandvoort grandstands next year."

F1 has been hopeful of reviving the race in the Netherlands in order to tap into the massive support for Max Verstappen. The 21-year-old’s fans are known to travel all over Europe to cheer on the Red Bull driver, boosting gate numbers for a number of European events.

Zandvoort last hosted an F1 race in 1985 when Niki Lauda took victory for McLaren, but the circuit has remained a top-level circuit in Europe ever since, hosting events such as DTM and Formula 3.

The race is set to replace the Spanish Grand Prix as the opening European round of the season, with question marks lingering over the future of the event in Barcelona.

Spain is one of five races out of contract at the end of 2019, with Britain, Italy, Mexico and Germany also facing uncertainty.

A deal has been agreed in principle to keep the Italian Grand Prix at Monza for another five years, while Silverstone is also expected to retain the British Grand Prix on a new contract.

But greater concerns remain for Spain, Mexico and Germany after F1 CEO Chase Carey said last week that it would likely be a 21-race calendar once again next year despite the addition of two new races. Besides the Dutch Grand Prix, a new event in Vietnam is also being planned for April 2020.

There are also doubts over the Brazilian Grand Prix. While Interlagos holds a contract for next year, president Jair Bolsonaro said last week that the race would move to Rio de Janeiro for 2020 at a new circuit.